Scapa Flow Museum
Free museum in the former naval base at Lyness on Hoy about Orkney in both World Wars and the history of Scapa Flow, with VR experiences.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Scapa Flow, the sheltered natural harbour in Orkney, served as the main base of the Royal Navy fleet in both world wars. The museum is at Lyness on the island of Hoy, which was one of the base's main sites and later became HMS Proserpine. It is housed in a refurbished Romney hut and in an oil fuel pumphouse built in 1937 to pump fuel oil to the fleet, whose Wilson Lancashire boilers can still be seen.
The museum opened in 1990 as the Scapa Flow Visitor Centre and joined Orkney Islands Council's museums service in 2000. It closed in 2017 for a major redevelopment and reopened in July 2022 after a £4.4 million refurbishment. In 2023 it was a finalist for the Art Fund Museum of the Year award.
The displays contain over 250 objects and interactive exhibits. They cover Orkney's role in both wars, the Battle of Jutland, the loss of HMS Hampshire, Vanguard and Royal Oak, the scuttling of the German fleet after the First World War and the post-war salvage industry. A newer extension looks at entertainment for wartime service personnel, and virtual reality experiences show how large the base at Lyness once was. An archive area holds photographs, documents and personal accounts.
Highlights
- Original 1937 pumphouse with its Wilson Lancashire boilers
- Over 250 objects and interactive exhibits about Orkney in both world wars
- Virtual reality experiences showing the scale of the Lyness naval base
- Stories of HMS Hampshire, Vanguard and Royal Oak
- Archive area with photographs, documents and personal accounts
- Free entry
Permanent exhibition
- Scapa Flow in the World Wars – Over 250 objects and interactive displays cover the naval base at Lyness, the wars at sea, the loss of famous warships and the salvage of the German fleet.
- Founded
- 1990
- Operated by
- Orkney Islands Council (Orkney Museums)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Entry is free; a donation of £5 is suggested.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is on one level. A hearing loop is at reception and accessible toilets are at the main entrance. Assistance dogs are welcome; other pets are not. The ground between the car park, the ferry and the museum is uneven, so visitors with mobility difficulties may prefer to bring a vehicle.
Kids & families
- Baby changing facilities
Baby changing is available in the toilets nearest the main entrance.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Take the Hoy Head ferry from Houton. From Kirkwall, the Stagecoach number 2 bus from the Kirkwall Travel Centre meets the ferry at Houton. Ferry timetables are at orkneyferries.co.uk.
By car
Parking available
A car park is within sight of the main entrance.
The museum is at Lyness on the island of Hoy, so a ferry crossing is part of every visit. What3words: flinches.quietly.aquatic.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
A café is attached to the museum; its opening times vary by season, so it is worth checking before a visit. The shop sells books, gifts and local crafts.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | No regular guided tours are scheduled. Private tours, group visits, research visits and school trips can be arranged by email or telephone. |
